Bblne-ketarstinig valve



G. F. LAUGHLIN.

BRINE RETAINING VALVE.

l y APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 13| 9l6. 1 ,3Q8,086. Patented July 1, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

G. F. LAUGHLIN.

BRINE RETAINING VALVE APfLlcATloN FILED SEPT. 13. 191s.

Patented July 1 3 SHEETS G. F. L'AUGHLIN.

BRLNE RETAINING VALVE.

APPLlcATloN FILED SEPT. 13. 191s.

Patented uly 1, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3 en sTnTEs PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE F. LAUGHLIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

` BRINE-RETAINING VALVE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 1, 1919.

Application filed September 13, 1916. Serial No. 119,943.

My invention belongs to that general class of devices known as Valves, and although not limited in its application to use on brine tanks, it is articularly desirable thereon, and is therefore herein illustrated and derI scribed as applied on the brine tanks of refrigerator cars. The present device is in the nature of an improvement over the siphoning device shown in my Patent No. 1.127,460. dated Ifel'irua-ry 9, 1915, in which patent is set forth in full the requirements and results desired of controlling mechanism employed for this purpose. It is also fully set forth in said patent the method of icing the refrigerator cars, asubstantial portion of which description is applicable toy the present device. and hence need not be described in full. The present invention has among its objects the production of a device of the kind described that is simple, convenient, eiicient, durable and satisfactory for use wherever found applicable. .It has also as objects the production of a device that may be inexpensively manufactured and installed and will not readily get `out of order. It has among its further objects the production of a device in which the icer is sure to discharge the excess brine, and thereafter close the valve, the preferred embodiment of the invention being such that the valve will automatically open and the brine be discharged upon the removing of the trap door or plug at the top of the car for icing, the' valve opening at that time and, closing upon the replacing vof said trapy door or plug.

Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein made. To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and com-I bination of parts herein shown and dei scribed, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.,

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts,

Figure 1 is a sectional view through a portion of the car, taken substantially on une 1, 1 of Fig. a;

Fig. Q is a sectional view taken substantially on line 2, 2 of Fig. 1;

i Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of ai mod ied construction, and

Fig. 4, is a side elevation of the same illustrating two tanks equipped with the modified construction, a. portion of `the tanks broken away.

Referring to the drawings, 1 and 2 represent portions of the car structure, and 3 a removable trap door or plug, arranged over the brine tanks 4. The car may be equipped with any number of tanks of suitable ma teriahsize and shape, arranged as'desired,

the trap door or hatch plug beinp,` remov able` for the purpose of icing the tanks. Ordinarily a collecting pan 5 is arranged esr below the brine tanks, and which is `proi vided with a drain pipe 6, and a water trapl not shown in detail. I have shown an.y arrangement of tanks similar to that shown in passage of brine through the outlets 7, how.

ever, is normally controlled and prevented, except at such times as may be desired, by thevalves 8, which are preferably arranged within the tanks. As shown, each valve 8 is provided with a packing 9, and is carried by an arm 10 pivotally secured at 11 and supported on a bracket at the exterior of the tanks. The arm 10 is formed with an extension 12 constituting substantially a bell 80. .y my patent referred to, the tanks' being crank therewith. The arm 10 may be se cured to the valve in any Suitable mannlr. As shown, a bracket 13 is secured to the outer side of the valve and the same pivot ally secured at l14 to the arm 10.

Extending between the tanks is a controlling rod or bar 15, t9 which the arms 12 are suitably secured. l have shown connecting links 16 for pivotally connecting the arms 12 after.

Arranged preferably at the upper end of the rod 15l and carried by the part 2 of the car structure is a lever 18, which is pivotally supported at 19 intermediate its ends by a bracket 20, or the equivalent, carried by the structure. The same is also provided with any suitable Weight 21 at one end. As shown, one end of the lever 18 is arranged to coperate with the rod 15 'and engage a head 22 at the end thereof. Jalso arranged to coperate with the end lever 18 is a rod 23, which extends through the structure 2, and is preferably formed with head 24, the rod 23 being so disposed as to cooperate with the trap door or plug 8, as hereinafter described; The several parts may be positively connected or secured together in any suitable manner. i

The operation of the device may be briefly described as follows: Normally the liquid occupying the brine tanks is above the ports 7, any escape of the" same being prevented by the valves 8. When it is desired to reice the tanks, as for example at an icing` station, and at which place at that time it is always vdesirable to empty the brine tanks, the plugs or trap doors 8 are removed.preparatory to icing the several tanks. As soon. as the trap door 3 is removed, however, (see Fig. 2), rod 28 is released and Weight 21 raises the other end of lever 18, thereby raising rod 15. As the rod is raised, however, it raises the ends 12 of the bell crank 10-12, thereby opening the valves 8. The brine in the tanks 'flows out in the space 'between the tanks and dovvn into the collecting chamber 5, and out through the drain pipe 6, until the same reaches the level of the ports. As ice is placed in the tanks more brine may, of course flow out, but, of course, a portion of the saine remains around the particles of ice. i/Vhen the tank has been iced to the desired extent the trap door 3 is replaced, and the saine 'bears against the head 2l of rod 23, depressing the end of lever 18, and the Weight of the rod and bell cranks, together with weight 17, if the same is employed, causes the valves 8 to be closed, thereby preventing the escape of any further brine. Ordinarily salt or the like is placed on the top of the ice before the door 3 is positioned, and it will be noted that, the brine Working on the ice at the bottoni, the salt at the top forming new brine, a most e'ective freezing mixture is obtained.

The construction shown in Figs. 3 and 4 in somewhat similar, and While not autoparting from the s,

neoebee matic in operation, upon the removing or positioning of the trap door, the trap door cannot be positioned without lirst closing the valves. y

Referring to these figures, 28 represents the brine tanks, 27 a portion of the cui! structure corresponding with part 2 of Figs. 1 and 2. In this case the ports 29 are, arranged to be controlled h v valves Pio, ivhich are carried by the arms ill pivotally se cured at to a suitable support. The valves are also each provided with a bracket 33, which is` pivotally secured to :1 link Jilsecured to rod 35. The upper end 3o of the rod extends through the structure part 27 and is connected with :i lever 37 formed with a. cam facel 38 at one end and vi'itb :i handle 39 at the other end.

As shown, a pin 40 carried by the lever 3T extends through a slot in the end ol' the rod 35, pivotally securing the part .s luge( lu ri lf desired a weight 3G may be secured ori rod 35, as shoivn.

The operation of this forni of the devim` may be briefly described as folien v'vhen the lever 37 is in the position shown in Figs. 3 and l, the rod maintains the valves sluit, and the lever being denn. thivl closure may be positioned in the car roof. When the closure is removed, and it is desired to remove the brine, the handle 89 is grasped, the cam vvorkingon the. structure raises ile rod, and thus through the links 3l, siinul taneously opens the valves and permits the escape of the brine. rlhe valves may he, shut when desired, but it is inipostiht. set theclosure on' the car roof closing the, top of the tanks after the same have been. iced, Without moving the handle down, :is shown in Fig. 3. lt is therefore iinpossible to drain the tanks, and then after icing the saine seat the closure with the valves left open. lhile with this construction the valves do not open or sluit with the removalor replacing of the closure. nevertlufless it is impossible to seat the closure withY out closing the valves, and the valves are maintained closed when the closure is seated in operative position.

It will be noter'i hat the t\vo constructions are eXceetu Yv simple, and the car may be constructed t that they are readily accessible` fron'i the interior of the car. l. have not considered it. necessary to illustrate the valve seat. on trie ianl-:ffin detail. 'as this` may be modified and be made to suit the 'l2i preference of the car builder or user. l have shoivn the same as applicable for controlling tivo valves. Obviously they will operate the same if controlling one or more than tivo.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without de- .rit of my invention;

li l) lili ' same,

extending to the top hence l do not wish to be understood as limitingv myself toV theeiract form, construe# tion, arrangement or combination oit' parts herein shown and described, or uses mentioned.

What l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. ln a device of the kind described and in combination, a plurality of tanks, each' provided with a discharge port, a valve Vfor each port arranged to normally close the an operating rod, means for operatively connecting said rod' and valves, and means for controlling the movement of said rod, comprising a lever arranged to coperate with said rod and move 'the same length- Wise, and means for positively operating said lever or preventing the operation thereof.

2. In a refrigerator car of the kind described and in combination, a plurality of tanks arranged adjacent each other, said tanks provided with discharge ports in the side walls thereof, a valve for each 0i' said ports, said valves arranged on the inside of thetaiiks,` means ifor pivotally'securing said' valves to the exterior oi the tank, comprising a bell-cranklever having one'end pivotally secured to said valve, a vertically movable rod arranged between the tanks and thereof, one end of each ofsaid bell cranks connected to said rod7 a lever pivotally Isupported intermedi-ate its ends by the cars structure, one end jot saidlever engaging said rod, a weight arranged at the other end of said lever, a controlling rod for said lever having one end arranged .to engage with said first mentioned end of the lever.

and in combination, a brine tank having an outlet in one ot thewalls thereot, a closure for said tank, a valve disposed within the tank and operatively supported on the eirterior'thereof, said valve arranged to control the discharge oi' the brine through said outlet, controlling means for said valve co prising a rod arranged at the exterior, ff;

the tank and operatively connected to/' valve, a cooperating part arranged to pendently actuate said rod upon remoig 'Qdi the closure, and means coperating Wi said rod actuating part and the closure, trolling the operation of said rodand` locking the valve in closed position.

5. lin a refrigerator car of the kind described and in' combination, a pair of brine tanks arranged with their adjacent sides in proximity to each. other with a space therebetween, a closure for said tanks carried bv the car structure, said tanks having discharge ports in their adjacent sides, valves for controlling said discharge ports, gravity operated actuating means for said valves including a rod operatively connected therewith, controlling means for the rod arranged to engage said closure, whereby the valves .l

are maintained closed when the closure is in operative position. e

6. In a refrigerator car of the kind described and in combination, a brine tank, a closure therefor suitably carried thereabove, said tank having a discharge port in one or the walls thereof, a valve for closing said port when the tank closure is inoperative position `controlling means for said valve arranffed to coperate with said closure, wheretby the closure cannot be seated with the valve open, and means for simultaneously actuating said controlling means when the closure is removed.

7. ln a device of the kind described, a discharge opening for the brine, and a Valve for the discharge opening, in .combination with a longitudinally movable rod in proximity to the valve, a lever pivotally supported between its ends, with one-end loosely engaging the end ofthe rod and the other L end weighted to move the rod longitudinally when the lever is released, means extending to the exterior of the device for operating the lever, and operating means extending from .the valve to the free' end of the rod.

In testimony whereof, l have hereunto signed my name in the presence ot two subscribing witnesses.

l GEORGE F. LAUGHLIN.

Witnesses:

ROY W. HILL, CHARLES ll. Gore. 

